Method of Fabricating Bubble-Type Micro-Pump

ABSTRACT

A manufacturing method of a bubble-type micro-pump is provided. At least a bubble-generating unit is provided on the bubble-generating section. Because of the varied surface energies on the top of the bubble-generating section, the varied backfilling velocities of the fluid of the front end and the rear end cause fluid moving when a bubble vanishes. The top surface of the bubble-generating section is subjected to a particular surface treatment to form a surface energy gradient. Examples of surface treatment include sputtering a thin film with varied densities or thickness, radiating one or multi-layer thin films by a laser beam, etc.

This application is a Divisional of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/610,736, filed Nov. 2, 2009, and entitled “METHOD OFFABRICATING BUBBLE-TYPE MICRO-PUMP”, which claims the benefit of Taiwanapplication Serial No. 97149831, filed Dec. 19, 2008, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a method of fabricating abubble-type micro-pump, and more particularly to a method of fabricatingan electrolysis bubble-type micro-pump applied to a microfluidic chip.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the technology continues to evolve, the application of microfluidicchip is brought out in recent years. Generally speaking, a microfluidicchip roughly includes a fluidic channel and a fluid-dynamic mechanism.The design of micro-pump especially plays an important role in themovement of the fluid.

The detailed design, operating principle and various application fieldscan be found in many research documents and journals. For example, in“droplet movement on horizontal surface with gradient surface energy”disclosed in Science in China, volume 37, page 402-408 (2007),dodecyltrichlorosilane is used on silicon substrate to form a surfacewith gradient surface energy by chemical vapor deposition. The U.S. Pat.No. 6,231,948 reveals a pervious web to rapidly transport fluid awayfrom the contacting surface toward another surface. The U.S. Pat. No.6,232,521 reveals a low surface energy material applied to a back sheetof sanitary napkin to form a hydrophobic gradient between the back sheetand the core, which reduces leakage. A similar patent, U.S. Pat. No.5,658,639, reveals a non-woven web having the opposite first and thesecond surfaces. Several channels are used for transporting liquid. Whenliquid contacts the first surface with lower surface energy, the surfaceenergy gradient drives the liquid to flow toward the second surface.Therefore, the web is suited for use as a top sheet of a sanitarynapkin. Furthermore, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,404 reveals a method forforming surface energy gradients. Several three-dimensional raisedrib-like portions are produced to increase the caliper of the non-wovenweb, so that fluid can flow away from the wearer-contacting surface andinto the absorbent structure.

The design of micro-pump can be divided into two types according to thedriving principle of the fluid. One is to drive fluid through mechanicalmethod, such as bubble pump, membrane pump, diffuser pump, etc. Thesepumps use the mechanical elements to drive fluid. The other one is todrive fluid through induced electric field, such as electro-osmoticpump, electrophoretic pump, electro-wetting pump, etc. Fixed electrodesare formed in these pumps, and electric field is generated to drivefluid after voltage is applied.

It is an object to overcome the limitations of the process and tofabricate a microfluidic chip, such as a micro-pump, with precisionstructure and high-precision flow-rate control while controlling themanufacture cost to meet the demand of mass production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a method of fabricating a bubble-typemicro-pump. Variation of the material, density, thickness or surfaceroughness is formed by sputtering or a laser beam in order to form asurface energy gradient on the top surface in the bubble-generatingsection of the micro-channel. As a result, the manufacturing process issimplified, and the manufacturing cost is lowered.

According to the present invention, a method of fabricating abubble-type micro-pump is provided. The method includes following steps.First, a micro-channel having a top surface, a bottom surface and twoside walls is provided. The micro-channel has at least abubble-generating section. Next, a bubble-generating unit is provided inthe bubble-generating section of the micro-channel for generating abubble in a liquid between the front end and the rear end of thebubble-generating section. Then, a surface treatment is applied to thetop surface of the bubble-generating section to form a surface energygradient. When a bubble vanishes, the backfilling velocity of the liquidtoward the front end is different from that of the liquid toward therear end due to the surface energy gradient on the top surface, whichdrives liquid to flow toward the front end or the rear end.

When surface treatment is applied to the top surface, at least tworegions or parts with different surface energies are formed bysputtering or a laser beam for forming a surface energy gradient on thetop surface in the bubble-generating section.

The invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The followingdescription is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a microfluidic chip according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the bubble-generating section of the micro-channel inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bubble-generating section of themicro-channel in FIG. 2 when the pump operates;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a micro-channel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another micro-channel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another micro-channel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the micro-channel according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the micro-channel according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A illustrates several micro-cylinders on the top surface of themicro-channel according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9B is a side view of the micro-channel according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method of fabricating a bubble-type micro-pump is provided by thepresent invention. According to the present invention, a micro-channelhas a top surface, a bottom surface and two side walls. At least abubble-generating unit is provided on the bottom surface for generatinga bubble in a bubble-generating section of the micro-channel. The topsurface has a surface energy gradient. When the generated bubble startsto vanish, the backfilling velocity of the liquid flowing toward thefront end of the bubble-generating section is different from thebackfilling velocity of the liquid flowing toward the rear end of thebubble-generating section. As a result, the fluid is driven to flowtoward the front end or the rear end. The method of the presentinvention uses laser or sputtering method to form the surface energygradient on the top surface of the micro-channel.

A microfluidic chip of a bubble-type micro-pump is provided as followsto illustrate the fabricating method of the present invention. However,the microfluidic chip in the drawings is used as an example. The presentinvention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, unnecessary elements arenot shown in the drawings for clarity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a microfluidic chip according to the presentinvention. FIG. 2 illustrates the bubble-generating section of themicro-channel in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of the bubble-generatingsection of the micro-channel in FIG. 2 when the pump operates. Pleaserefer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at the same time.

The microfluidic chip 100 includes a micro-channel 110 and abubble-generating unit 120. The bubble-generating unit 120 includes thefirst electrode 121 and the second electrode 122. The first electrode121 and the second electrode 122 are respectively adjacent to the frontend e1 and the rear end e2 of the bubble-generating section S.

According to the operating principle of the bubble-type micro-pump, acontact angle is formed by the tension of the vapor-liquid-solidthree-phase interface. The value of the contact angle is related to thesurface wettability of the micro-channel. When the bubble B is generatedin the bubble-generating section S, the wettability of the solid surfaceon both sides of the bubble is different due to a surface energygradient formed on the top surface 110 a of the bubble-generatingsection S, which results in varied contact angles. It is assumed hereinthat the contact angle θ1 is less than the contact angle θ2. As aresult, when the bubble B vanishes (FIG. 3), the backfilling velocity ofthe liquid L toward the front end e1 is different from that toward therear end e2 due to capillary force, which drives the liquid to flowtoward the side with slower backfilling velocity (namely, the rightside). On the contrary, when the contact angle θ1 is larger than thecontact angle θ2, the liquid flows toward the side with slowerbackfilling velocity (namely, the left side). Moreover, an electrodecontrol circuit (not shown in the drawings) can be disposed on thesecond substrate 140 for controlling the electrodes 121 and 122 togenerate the bubble B.

When the microfluidic chip 100 is fabricated, the first substrate 130with a recess 131 and the second substrate 140 are providedrespectively. The first substrate 130 and the second substrate 140 arebonded to each other by light cure adhesive or pressure sensitiveadhesive. The surface of the recess 131 of the first substrate 130 formsthe top surface 110 a and the two side walls of the micro-channel 110.The surface of the second substrate 140 forms the bottom surface 110 bof the micro-channel 110. The first electrode 121 and the secondelectrode 122 are disposed on the second substrate 140 and respectivelyadjacent to the front end e1 and the rear end e2 of thebubble-generating section S. The recess 131 of the first substrate 130is preferably fabricated by low-cost injection molding, pressure castingor etching. The second substrate 140 having the first electrode 121 andthe second electrode 122 is fabricated through PCB (printed circuitboard) manufacturing process or MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system)manufacturing process. Besides, the first substrate 130 and the secondsubstrate 140 can be bonded to each other through the pressure sensitiveadhesive with re-workability. When a defective product is generated inthe manufacturing process, the pressure sensitive adhesive can be peeledoff and re-fabricated to increase the yield rate. Even after the productis used, the substrates can be separated, cleaned and sterilized forrecycling the costly second substrate 140. The second substrate 140 isreused for saving energy and protecting the environment.

The first electrode 121 and the second electrode 122 are used as thebubble-generating unit 120 in the embodiment. However, any one who hasordinary skills in the related field can understand that the presentinvention is not limited thereto. Other suitable bubble-generatingdevices can be provided in the bubble-generating section S of themicro-channel 110 for generating a bubble. Please refer to an essay“engineering surface roughness to manipulate droplets in micro-fluidicsystems” (Ashutosh Shastry, etc, pp 694-697, 30 Jan.˜3 Feb. 2005, IEEE)for the description of the bubble-type micro-pump.

Several modes of operation of the microfluidic chip of the presentinvention in FIG. 1 are provided as follows with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The fabricating method can be mainly divided assputtering method (the first embodiment) and laser method (the second tofourth embodiments) according to the present invention for forming thesurface energy gradient on the top surface of the micro-channel. Thestructures and the fabricating steps of the micro-channel in the modesof operation are merely used as examples for illustrating the invention.Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are used for illustratingthe invention, but not for limiting the scope of the invention.Furthermore, unnecessary elements are not shown in the drawings forclarity.

Forming a Surface Energy Gradient on the Top Surface of theMicro-Channel by Sputtering Method First Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a side view of a micro-channelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. The topsurface of the bubble-generating section includes two films. In thefabricating method, a surface treatment is applied to the firstsubstrate 230 before the first substrate 230 and the second substrate240 are bonded to each other, so that the first film 235 is formed inthe first region r1 of the top surface 210 a adjacent to the front ende1 of the bubble-generating section S. Then, the second film 236 isformed in the second region r2 of the top surface 210 a adjacent to therear end e2 of the bubble-generating section S. The second film 236adjacent to the rear end e2 connects to the first film 235 adjacent tothe front end e1 so as to form the micro-channel 210 in FIG. 4. As shownin FIG. 4, the first film 235 and the second film 236 are deposited bysputtering method. The first surface energy of the first film 235 isdifferent from the second surface energy of the second film 236 to forma surface energy gradient on the top surface 210 a′.

Moreover, besides using different materials, the surface energydifference between the first film 235 and the second film 236 can beformed by using the same material. However, the first film 235 and thesecond film 236 have different thickness or sputtering density in orderto form a surface energy gradient on the top surface 210 a′. Therefore,selection and modification can be made in the practical manufacturingprocess according to the application conditions.

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a side view of another micro-channelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. Thedifference between FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is that a single film 335 is formedby sputtering method on the top surface 310 a in the bubble-generatingsection S of the first substrate 330 in FIG. 5. However, the thicknessof the film 335 gradually increases or decreases from the front end e1to the rear end e2. A surface energy gradient is formed on the topsurface 310 a′ through the thickness variation of the film 335. Thedensity of the film 335 remains constant.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a side view of another micro-channelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. The film 435with the same thickness is deposited on the top surface 410 a in thebubble-generating section S of the first substrate 430. The density ofthe film 435 increases or decreases from the front end e1 to the rearend e2. A surface energy gradient is formed through the densityvariation of the film 335.

In the above description, the surface energy gradient is formed on thetop surface in the bubble-generating section through the variation ofthe material, thickness or density of the film. However, in practicalapplication, the first substrate 230/330/430 with the recess 231/331/431can be formed by disc manufacturing process. Compared to theconventional method of manufacturing the first substrate by MEMStechnology, the present invention significantly reduces themanufacturing cost, increases the production speed and further improvesthe yield rate.

Forming a Surface Energy Gradient on the Top Surface of theMicro-Channel by a Laser Beam Second Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a side view of the micro-channelaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention. In thesecond embodiment, some regions of a multi-layer film are heated bylaser so that the surface energy is varied between the heated region andun-heated region, which causes a surface energy gradient.

In the fabricating method, before the first substrate 530 and the secondsubstrate 540 are bonded to each other, a surface treatment is appliedto the first substrate 530 for forming a reflective layer 534 on the topsurface 510 a in the bubble-generating section S. Next, the first film535 is formed on the reflective layer 534. Then, the second film 536 isformed on the first film 535 for forming a multi-layer film. Later,several regions of the multi-layer film (namely, the first film 535 andthe second film 536) in the bubble-generating section S are heated by alaser beam in order to form a complex 537 of the first film 535 and thesecond film 536. The surface energy in the region heated by the laserbeam is different from that in the un-heated region in order to form asurface energy gradient on the top surface 510 a′. In the presentembodiment, the first film 535 and the second film 536 are preferablydeposited by sputtering method. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto.

Third Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a side view of the micro-channelaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the thirdembodiment, a substance undergoes chemical changes or foams by a laserbeam, which causes the variation of roughness to form a surface energygradient on the top surface of the micro-channel.

In the fabricating method, a surface treatment is applied to the firstsubstrate 630 before the first substrate 630 and the second substrate640 are bonded to each other, for forming a reflective layer 634 on thetop surface 610 a in the bubble-generating section S. Next, a mixed film635 with pressure sensitive adhesive and foaming agent is formed on thereflective layer 634. Then, several regions of the bubble-generatingsection S is heated by a laser beam so that several foaming protrudingparts 637 are formed in the heated region. In the present embodiment,the protruding parts 637 heated by a laser beam has different surfaceenergy from the un-heated region, which forms a surface energy gradienton the top surface 610′.

Furthermore, different materials can be used selectively. For example, amixed film 635 with pressure sensitive adhesive and dye is formed on thereflective layer 634 and heated by a laser beam. Several concaves areformed in the heated regions. Similarly, the concaves heated by thelaser beam has different surface energy from the un-heated region, whichforms a surface energy gradient on the top surface 610′

Similar to the first embodiment, the first substrate 530/630 with therecess 531/631 in the second and third embodiments can be formed throughfast and low-cost disc manufacturing process.

Fourth Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the films on the top surface of themicro-channel have different surface energy through sputtering method.In the second and third embodiments, the film is formed first and then alaser beam is used for producing chemical changes to form a surfaceenergy gradient. In the fourth embodiment, several micro-cylinders areformed on the top surface of the micro-channel by laser technology tochange the surface roughness of the plane to replace the conventionalmanufacturing process with high cost and complicated steps by MEMStechnology.

Please refer to FIGS. 9A and 9B at the same time. FIG. 9A illustratesseveral micro-cylinders on the top surface of the micro-channelaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B isa side view of the micro-channel according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

In the fabricating method, a surface treatment is applied to the firstsubstrate 730 before the first substrate 730 and the second substrate740 are bonded to each other. The top surface in the bubble-generatingsection S is sintered by a laser beam for forming severalmicro-cylinders. The micro-cylinders change the surface roughness of thetop surface 710 a, which forms a surface energy gradient on the topsurface 710 a′.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first cylinder group G1 and the secondcylinder group G2 are formed on the first substrate 730 (such as asilicon substrate) and respectively corresponding to the two regions ofthe first substrate 730. The first cylinder group G1 includes severalfirst micro-cylinders 751 with the same cross-sectional area. The areaproportion of the first cylinder group G1 determines the first roughnessfactor ω1 . The second cylinder group G2 includes several secondmicro-cylinders 752 with the same cross-sectional area, and thecross-sectional area of the second micro-cylinders 752 is greater thanthat of the first micro-cylinders 751. Similarly, the area proportion ofthe second cylinder group G2 determines the second roughness factor ω2.The first roughness ω1 is different from the second roughness factor ω2because the first micro-cylinders 751 and the second micro-cylinders 752have different cross-sectional area, which forms a surface energygradient on the top surface 710 a′.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first cylinder group G1 and the second cylindergroup G2 respectively include the first micro-cylinders 751 with lesscross-sectional area and the second micro-cylinders 752 with largercross-sectional area. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. Several micro-cylinders with the cross-sectional area graduallychanging from the front end e1 to the rear end e2 can be formed by alaser beam on the top surface 710 a of the first substrate 730. As aresult, the top surface 710 a of the channel has rough surface withdifferent roughness factors, which forms a surface energy gradient.Compared to conventional method through MEMS technology, the variationof the surface energy gradient on the top surface 710 a of the firstsubstrate 730 is formed by a laser beam, which is accurate and fast, andfurther lowers the manufacturing cost.

In the method of fabricating a bubble-type micro-pump disclosed in theabove embodiments of the present invention, the variation of material,density, thickness or surface roughness is formed through laser orsputtering to form a surface energy gradient on the top surface in abubble-generating section of the micro-channel. Furthermore, in thefabricating method disclosed in the embodiments, the first substrate canbe formed through disc manufacturing process, which reducesmanufacturing cost and increases production speed and yield rate.Moreover, the first substrate and the second substrate are preferablybonded to each other by pressure sensitive adhesive, so that thedefective products can be re-fabricated and the costly second substratecan be recycled.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofa preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope ofthe appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similararrangements and procedures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating a bubble-type micro-pump,comprising: providing a micro-channel having a top surface, a bottomsurface and two side walls, the micro-channel comprising at least abubble-generating section; providing a bubble-generating unit in thebubble-generating section of the micro-channel, for generating a bubblein a liquid between a front end and a rear end of the bubble-generatingsection; and applying a surface treatment to the top surface of thebubble-generating section to form a surface energy gradient on the topsurface, so that a difference between a backfilling velocity at thefront end and that at the rear end drives the liquid to flow toward thefront end or the rear end; wherein the surface energy gradient is formedby using a laser beam.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein atleast two regions with different surface energies are formed by lasertechnology to form the surface energy gradient on the top surface. 3.The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of forming the surfaceenergy gradient on the top surface comprises: forming a reflective layeron the top surface in the bubble-generating section; forming a firstfilm on the reflective layer after forming the reflective layer; forminga second film on the first film after forming the first film; heating aplurality of regions of the first film and the second film in thebubble-generating section by a laser beam, and the heated regionscomprising complex of the first film and the second film, wherein thesurface energy of the heated regions is different from that of theun-heated regions.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the firstfilm and the second film are formed by sputtering.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the step of forming the surface energygradient on the top surface comprises: forming a reflective layer on thetop surface in the bubble-generating section; forming a mixed film onthe reflective layer after the step of forming the reflective layer; andheating a plurality of regions of the mixed film in thebubble-generating section by a laser beam, wherein the surface energy ofthe heated regions is different from that of the un-heated regions. 6.The method according to claim 5, wherein the mixed film comprises apressure sensitive adhesive and a foaming agent, a plurality of foamingprotruding parts are formed in the laser-heated regions, and the surfaceenergy of the foaming protruding parts is different from that of theun-heated regions.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the mixedfilm comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive and a dye, a plurality ofconcaves are formed in the laser-heated regions, and the surface energyof the concaves is different from that of the un-heated regions.
 8. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein the step of forming the surfaceenergy gradient on the top surface comprises: forming a plurality ofmicro-cylinders on the top surface by a laser beam, the variation of thecross-sectional area of the micro-cylinders causing varied surfaceroughness of the top surface for forming the surface energy gradient. 9.The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of forming a pluralityof micro-cylinders on the top surface by a laser beam comprises: forminga first cylinder group comprising a plurality of first micro-cylinderswith the same cross-sectional area; and forming a second cylinder groupcomprising a plurality of second micro-cylinders with the samecross-sectional area, wherein the cross-sectional area of the firstmicro-cylinders is different from that of the second micro-cylinders.10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of forming aplurality of micro-cylinders on the top surface by a laser beamcomprises forming a plurality of micro-cylinders with thecross-sectional area gradually increasing or decreasing from the frontend to the rear end, which forms a surface energy gradient on the topsurface of the bubble-generating section.
 11. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the step of providing the micro-channels comprises:providing a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substratecomprising at least a recess having the bubble-generating section; andattaching the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein thesurface of the recess forms the top surface and the two walls of themicro-channel, and surface of the second substrate forms the bottomsurface of the micro-channel.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein the step of providing the bubble-generating unit comprises:disposing a first electrode and a second electrode on the bottom surfacein the bubble-generating section, the first electrode and the secondelectrode respectively adjacent to the front end and the rear end of thebubble-generating section.
 13. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe first substrate is manufactured by a disc manufacturing process. 14.The method according to claim 11, wherein the first substrate with therecess is manufactured by injection molding, pressure casting oretching.
 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the firstsubstrate and the second substrate are attached by a pressure sensitiveadhesive.